Survey study, 1986
Can premenstrual syndrome be used as a legal defense in criminal cases?
Not yet as a full defense. Canadian courts recognize PMS as a mitigating factor in sentencing. The authors say stronger medical recognition would help establish it as a formal defense.
What they did
The authors analyzed Canadian legal cases involving PMS and discussed its legal implications. They looked at cases in England and the United States for comparison. They offered suggestions on how physicians could make PMS evidence more reliable in court.
What they found
PMS is recognized in Canadian courts in a legally and practically important manner, particularly as a mitigating factor in sentencing. PMS is unlikely to become a substantive criminal defense until the medical community more fully recognizes its significance.
What it means for you
This shows that law has recognized PMS in a practical way, but legal acceptance is ahead of full medical consensus on the condition. The main limitation is that this is legal analysis, not medical research with patient data.
About the study
- Original title
- Legal implications of premenstrual syndrome: a Canadian perspective
- Authors
- Meehan E, MacRae K
- Journal
- CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne
- Year
- 1986
- Study design
- Survey study
- What was tested
- Legal analysis only, no research study conducted
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3756691/
Topics
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